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Suburban feud ends in chainsaw attack, court hears

Mark Russell

A long-running neighbourhood feud ended with a man being attacked with a chainsaw, a court heard today.

The victim, Damien Revell, 39, had his right hand nearly severed in the attack.

He was taken to hospital suffering severe tendon damage to his wrist, multiple cuts to his chest, and needed 22 stitches to his head.

In a victim impact statement read to the County Court today, Mr Revell said he still had nightmares over the attack and would often wake up covered in sweat.

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Doctors have told him he will have 70 per cent use of his hand if he's lucky. He had stopped taking his three sons camping and fishing because he cannot use his hand properly.

Mr Revell said he could also no longer stand the sound of chainsaws, whipper snippers and lawnmowers.

Benjamin Paul Gerada, 34, of Melton South, pleaded guilty in the County Court to recklessly causing serious injury to Mr Revell on January 17 this year.

The maximum penalty is 15 years' jail.

Defence lawyer Chris Pearson told the court Gerada "had been swept up in this general maelstrom that descended on the streets of south Melton".

Gerada and his partner, Natasha, had been drinking at Matt Fayle's home in Brennan Street, Melton South, at about 12.30am before visiting a nearby friend.

As they were walking back to Fayle's place, the couple claimed they were attacked by a group of men armed with baseball bats and knives who warned them to stay away from Fayle.

Prosecutor Bruce Nibbs told the court Fayle was well-known in the area for regularly starting up a chainsaw to intimidate other residents.

Mr Pearson said the group of men, which did not include Mr Revell, threatened Gerada with a knife and told him to stay away from Fayle or he would cop it.

Gerada's partner, Natasha, ran back to their friends' house while Gerada ended up back at Fayle's place.

The group of men then assembled outside Fayle's house and started throwing rocks and half bricks at the property.

Mr Nibbs said Fayle was standing in the front yard revving the chainsaw and saying, "Come on you dogs."

Gerada then grabbed the chainsaw off Fayle and lunged at Mr Revell, who claimed he had walked up the street to see what the commotion was about, pulling the chainsaw down over his body. Mr Revell put his hand up in self-defence and was badly injured.

Gerada later told police he had acted in self-defence.

"The blood was pumping as I thought I was going to be stabbed," Gerada said in his police record of interview.

"It was a stupid thing to do at the time, but I didn't think that they would come any closer when I had the chainsaw, but they did.

"I didn't think to move back from the fence which I should have done. I just wanted them to go so I could go home.

"It was pathetic. I shouldn't have done it. I should have turned around and run."